It's in your soil

Fall and Winter Prep

There are a few things to do in the fall and winter in order to get a start on next years garden but it won’t take long . Organization and following your plan is the key to success.

Clean up the old garden in the fall . Clean and pull old plants , discard any trash and burn any material that might carry any insects or disease . If you live in the deep South it may be possible to plant a second crop of vegetables such as carrots , early cabbage , collards, radish , peas, onions and beets . Those of you that are living in the Upper South plant lettuce , collards, spinach , onions and kale. More delicate vegetables , such as lettuce, can be grown in a cold frame

This is also a good time to plant bulbs.

Now when your garden is replanted you may harvest a second crop , depending on your location , and then when that is fully produced , clean the garden again . This time you may wish to till it and sow oats into the entire garden . This will grow and hold your soil as well as offer nutrition into your soil . In the Spring you just need to plow and till and possibly add lime.

In the future we will address preparing your soil in a way that will allow you to have a permanently established garden bed where plants thrive . This method will not require that you labor as you have in the past . This method is relatively effortless.

Please contact me if you have questions or suggestions . All input is welcome.

An end of season recipe is here folks and it is yummy .

Garden Soup

Four stalks of celery , 2 large onions , garlic to taste, 1 green pepper , 6 tomatoes , half of a head of a small cabbage , 2 cups beans , 1 tsp. salt , 1 Tbl spoon of honey , 1 Tbl spoon of vinegar. Cook 2 pounds of ground beef or other meat such as chicken and chop . Chop vegetables and add to the meat and add water to make the consistency desired . Simmer for an hour or two. Season and serve.